Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
461–470 of 1001 posts
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#462Epic Games has filed a lawsuit [1] and published a Fortnite-themed parody of Apple's "1984" [2] to get some publicity for it. [1] https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiSHuaw6Q4
I like the parody, but it's not really equivalent. The original Apple parody was to convince consumers to switch from one platform (PC) to a different platform (Mac). Now, maybe you believe Apple, in the form of iOS, has become Big Brother. Fine, in that case, Epic should provide its own gaming platform. But Epic isn't trying to destroy Big Brother here. It still wants to run on Big Brother's platform. It just doesn'…
It stopped being Big Brother's platform when they sold their first phone to a consumer.
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#463Earlier quoted context omitted.
It could be the case if AMP grows dominant; given the market share of Google Search, it could be enough to create a controlled (er, "curated") web in a similar spirit.
So you're proposing diverting the conversation to a theoretical that has little chance of happening but not discussing the actual example that's happening right now? App Stores suck. App Stores with no side-loading are even worse. Platforms that are locked down so much that you can't even install your own OS are worse. We used to bitch about Tivoization on HN all the time, it seems post iPhone, everyone seems A-OK.
The same model dates back to the first game consoles. As much as people love freedom the utility of curated lists of applications that work without issues is a major selling point. I don’t think effectively banning consoles and app stores is a net win for consumers as long as the option exists for a competitive open platform.
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#464> Apple has removed Epic Games’ battle royale game Fortnite from the App Store after the developer on Thursday implemented its own in-app payment system that bypassed Apple’s standard 30 percent fee > 1,000 V-bucks, which is roughly equivalent to $10 in-game Fortnite currency, now costs just $7.99 if you use Epic direct payment instead of the standard Apple payment processing. Normally, that amount of currency costs…
Epic still has payment processing costs, ones that were contained within Apple's 30% fee, and probably some other costs I'm not familiar with. They may have rounded those costs up to the nearest $X.99 for clean numbers.
Or just kept 10% as extra profit :)
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#465"You either die a hero or live long enough to see your self become the villain."
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#466Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would argue that the technical limitations of iOS are what accomplishes this, rather than app review. For a malicious actor, sneaking prohibited behavior past app review is incredibly easy - look at what Fortnite just did! The reason that apps on iOS can't damage your device is that apps are sandboxed, and that the OS requires user permission to access data and places limits on how many resources an app can use. Th…
Sandboxing is important, but is only one part of the protections. There's also: - App store guidelines on what is and is not permissible in different cases - Restrictions against using private APIs - Restrictions against jailbreaking the device There are a variety of VPN apps available on iOS. Why was Onavo blocked? Because it violated the guidelines on the use of the information, which is the kind of thing that it d…
All iOS jailbreaks are a result of security vulnerabilities, which Apple tends to fix almost as soon as they're discovered - and ultimately, it's Apple's responsibility to make their sandbox secure, regardless of what's running in it. I also don't see how installing outside apps would make jailbreaks any easier, given that you can already connect your phone to a computer and temporarily install an app on it (and for people who are motivated to jailbreak, this isn't much of a hurdle).
I haven't done enough iOS development to know for sure, but I'm assuming Apple could prevent private API usage by apps through technical means, rather than just app review.
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#467Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would argue that the technical limitations of iOS are what accomplishes this, rather than app review. For a malicious actor, sneaking prohibited behavior past app review is incredibly easy - look at what Fortnite just did! The reason that apps on iOS can't damage your device is that apps are sandboxed, and that the OS requires user permission to access data and places limits on how many resources an app can use. Th…
Sandboxing is important, but is only one part of the protections. There's also: - App store guidelines on what is and is not permissible in different cases - Restrictions against using private APIs - Restrictions against jailbreaking the device There are a variety of VPN apps available on iOS. Why was Onavo blocked? Because it violated the guidelines on the use of the information, which is the kind of thing that it d…
Here's already another platform that does just fine with sandboxing. It's been running for 27+ years. It's called a the web browser. Restrictions against using private APIs.... you can't call any private APIs, it's impossible. Find an exploit? It's generally fixed in a few days.
Software isn't even installed, new versions are downloaded daily or more so the concept of sandboxing as been throughly tested and proven effective for those 27 years.
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#468Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.
Doesn’t Windows on ARM only allow apps through the Windows Store?
That was "Windows RT" (not to be confused with "WinRT").
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#469If I go to the App Store on my phone, and go to my "Purchased" list, Fortnite is still listed there. I wasn't up to date, and clicking on "update" gives the message: "Fortnite" No Longer Available. The developer has removed this app from the App Store. Interesting wording. I wonder if they only have one message for pulled-by-Apple vs pulled-by-dev?
Epic effectively pulled it themselves when they unilaterally broke their agreement. I think Apple's cut is egregious but at the same time, they're not a monopoly. My main gripe is that they're behaving as if they're bringing value that the developers are riding on, when in reality nobody would buy iPhones if it weren't for the value that many developers are bringing to the platform, often at no cost to Apple.
Apple has 49-65% of the phone+tablet market in the USA. People keep forgetting it's irrelevant if Android is more popular the world over. Countries only bring anti-monopoly decisions based on their country's market, not the world market.
Further, the market for "smartphones" is not Apple vs Google. It's Apple vs Samsung vs Motorola vs LG vs Sony. Those are smartphone makers. At the 50%+ marketshare, Apple has more than double the market share of it's next biggest competitor.
Further, as pointed out elsewhere you don't have to have a monopoly for being sued for anti-competitive behavior.
Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store
#470Earlier quoted context omitted.
Epic is famous for buying exclusive rights for games to make people play on their store. I hope they like eating their own food now.
Heh, game publishers are responsible for their decisions, not some "cruel" Epic who seduced little foolish publishers.
Epic is not a virtuous actor since it basically promotes exclusivity - we have seen that for a number of games, and more recently with Rocket League.
Steam, for example, does no do that: you can sell your game on Steam and outside of Steam at the same time and Valve will have no problem with it.